RATING ON THE ACREAGE BASIS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 13924, 7 March 1913, Page 4

RATING ON THE ACREAGE BASIS.

When several years ago the promoters of the suburban tram service to Castlecliff introduced their proposals they suggested that the rating security for the interest on the loan should bo on an acreage'basis, recognising that large areas of land towards Castlecliff would bo benefited to a greater extent try a regular tram service than lands nearer the borough boundary. Tbe owners of the land consented to that proposal, and a clause embodying the principle of rating on acreage was inserted in the Bill. Members of Parliament, however, had not hitherto dealt with such a, system, and hesitated to make so radical a change in the mode of rating. Consequently the clause had to tie remodelled to provide •. for rating on .unimproved ,values, in wlijch changed form., .Mr... J. ~,T. ...Hojgan .. piloted the Bill through tho House. Some little time afterwards at a meeting of the Eangitikoi Farmers’ Union tho, acreage ‘ rating basis was • suggested in connection with drainage works on farm lands, and a-limit supporting tho suggestion was passed. We have not heard whether practical effect has been given to the proposal, but we note that at a meeting of 'ho Manawatu Drainage Board the other day a circular was received from the Eltham Board stating that after communicating with various Drainage Boards, and giving the existing, rating classification duo consideration, tho Eltham' Board had concluded that the option, of rating bn an acreage basis should bo brought within the jurisdiction of all Boards. The Eltham Board asked for tho co-operation of all Boards in the Dominion in' an endeavour to have tho Land Drainage Act amended in the direction of increasing tho number of rating classifications, also to provide for optional powers to Drainage Boards'to adopt, • classify, and rate on an acreage basis. The Eltham Board asked the Mauawufcu Drainage Board to use its best endeavours to get the member for tho district to support auy legislation in tho direction named if introduced into Parliament. Tho Aka Aka Drainage Board also wrote on the same subject, considering if the rating Were carried out on the acreage basis it. would prove more satisfactory, and that lauds under it would contribute more proportionately to tho benefits received, without being penalised for improvements as in many instances they were under the present system. It was resolved to support tho, Eltham and Akc Ake Boards, the proposal suggested being considered in the right direction.